Ga. redistricting plan imperils Barrow

Georgia lawmakers unveiled a new congressional map Monday that imperils Democratic Rep. John Barrow and creates a new GOP-friendly seat in the northeast region of the state.

The map removes the Democratic stronghold of Savannah from Barrow’s 12th District and replaces it with the Republican-leaning Augusta area, making the marginally Democratic seat more white, majority Republican and significantly more competitive. Barrow himself doesn’t live in the new district, but he signaled Monday that he’ll still run there.

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“This isn’t the first time the folks in Atlanta have put politics above the interests of the people I represent … and I doubt it will be the last,” the fourth-term Democrat said in a statement. “But I’ve always believed that working hard for the people trumps politics every time. … I look forward to getting to know the new constituents drawn in to Georgia’s 12th District, and building on the friendships I’ve formed with folks who still call the 12th District home.”

The new map still needs approval from the Republican-controlled state Legislature and GOP Gov. Nathan Deal, as well as the Justice Department. Republicans control all of the state’s redistricting levers, so GOP incumbents are expected to mostly end up in safer seats.

The last remaining white Democrat in the Deep South, Barrow is sure to face a stiff challenge after surviving last year’s GOP wave. State Rep. Lee Anderson is seen as a leading Republican candidate to challenge Barrow.

The state, which gets a new congressional district because of population growth, will have a new seat centered near Gainesville. Conservative radio host Martha Zoller and state Rep. Doug Collins are seen as likely Republican candidates for the new district.

Republican Rep. Austin Scott is also shored up by the new map, ceding the left-leaning area of Macon to the district held by Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop.

Republicans hope to emerge from the 2012 cycle with a 10-4 advantage in Georgia’s congressional delegation.